Testing your limits

I took the opportunity this summer to train hard for what is known as a "Spartan Sprint" race. Instead of running my knees and ankles into the pavement all summer I was hitting the gym and pumping iron like a crazy woman. It took all I had most days to drag myself to the gym and not give up. It also required a lot of hiking and trail running. I proved to be mostly successful, but had a few ebbs to my flows. An amazing transformation happened however which I was so pleased to realize. At the beginning of the summer I couldn't do even one pull up. My body would shake and quiver in rejection as my chin so desperately wanted to reach the bar. After about 2 months of practice and diligence in even getting my body half way, I finally reached the bar. And not only that, I can now reach it about 7 times! This among many other strides I made physically while training for this said event. It was kind of like I gained a small glimpse of what my body used to be like as a kid. Growing up I lived and died for gymnastics, and lets be honest- mostly all sports is what I lived for. I remember feeling like I could do anything physically that I wanted to do. Push ups? No problem. Hand-stand push ups? Of course! There was nothing I felt I couldn't do. I loved that feeling of invincibility. Somewhere along the road to maturity I lost all sense of that. I almost seemed to cave in emotionally as well. I became insecure, afraid, and full of doubt. Being a runner most of my adult life renewed a sense of that old self. Mostly emotionally however. Going for a long run has always been a sort of emotional therapy for me. It's wonderful to turn off the "mom brain" and just let the wind and sun hit my face. I was nervous this weekend as my husband and I traveled to Temecula, California to do it. He also ran in the "Spartan Beast" event, because he was earning what they call a "Trifecta Award". After finishing the "Sprint" I think I'd like to train for a "Trifecta" next year. It feels so renewing and wonderful to train my emotional side as well as my physical limit. Our bodies are a wonderful creation of our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for everything my body can achieve. I am so blessed.